Electric sigh



F. A. SMITH.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10. 1917.

8 H51. FREE.

WITNESSES FREDERICK A. SMITH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEN TS, TO HI-GLO SIGN 00.,

A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Patented Dec. 30, 19119.

Application filed October 10, 1917. Serial No. 195,662.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. SMITH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signs, of which improvement the following is a specification. g y invention relates to improvements in electric signs and particularly in that class of sign in which a letter or character or design is defined at night by means of a series of shining bodies. a 1

The object of my invention is to produce a sign in which a series of reflectors are arranged adjacent to a character or design and in'such position as to outline the said design, said reflectors being illuminated by a lesser number of lights, whereby the necessity of using a large number of electric lamps is dispensed with, thus effecting a large economy in cost of operation; a further object is to provide a means whereby an ordinary electric sign, consisting of electric lamps arranged in the form of a character, can be changed to my improved electric sign by the simple substitution of most of the said electric lamps by improved reflectors. The electric sign thus produced is composed of reflectors which do not tarnish or deteriorate through exposure to the weather.

I attain these and other objects by means of a support or sign, on which the character is outlined, having one or more shaded lamps mounted thereon and supporting a series of light-receiving members, each of which is provided with a surface adapted to reflect, and yet diffuse, the rays of light received from the'lamp, said light taking a general direction similar to that taken by light reflected from a similar surface without being broken up or diffused. These light-reflecting members each comprise a transparent body, preferably made of glass, having an inclined face exposed to the light of the lamp, the inner or reverse surface of said face being pitted or roughened, and being provided with a reflecting material whereby thelight from said lamp is reflected in a diffused manner. The said lightreflecting body is preferably formed of asingle hollow piece of glass having a shank,

provided with securing means such as screw threads, whereby it may be readily secured to the sign board either in sockets, formerly of the light, the shade,

intended to receive electric lamps, or in suitably formed openings adapted to receive and firmly hold said shanks. The series of said light-reflecting bodies is arranged adjacent to the character defined on the support, comprising the sign, and each is so disposed with relation to the shaded lamp that the light rays therefrom will brilliantly illuminate it, and its reflecting surface will reflect and diffuse the light in the general direction desired.

Th novel construction by which the said objects are attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which igure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a sign showing the. letter B as used thereon;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of my improved sign showing the arrangement and the reflectors Fig. '8' is a section ofone of the lightreflecting and diffusing members; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under side of one ofthe transparent reflecting members before the application thereto of the reflecting material.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that the sign board 1 is provided with suitably outlined letters or characters and with sockets or openings 4, located in proper relation to said char acters, adapted to receive and removably retain the shanks 3 of the reflectors. The said light-reflectors are all similar in construction and are each preferably formed of a single piece 2 of glass, of the general form shown, provided with a relatively flat but slightly concaved inclined reflecting portion and with a cylindrical shank 3, provided with a securing lug, which may be in the form of a screw thread, adapted to enter and engage the spiral groove of an ordinary electric socket, or other holding means. The reflecting portion, being made of transparent material, such as glass, transmits the received light to its inner or reverse surface, and this surface is roughened or pitted, by any suitable means, and is provided with a light-reflecting material, so that the said received light is reflected back transparent material. But the said reflected light is broken or diffused by the roughened 0r pitted inner surface of the glass and apthrough the I pears simply as a white or frosted disk.

the board or support, such as the rubber gasket 5 surrounding the shank and adapted to' be clamped therebetween, thus effectively locking the reflector in such adjusted position.

The light for the sign is provided by one or more electric lamps 6 positioned so as to give substantially uniform illumination over i the face of the sign. These lamps are mounted on the outer side of the sign or support and their direct outward rays are prevented from dazzling or otherwise interfering'with the appearance of the siguby the interposition of a shade, which may be in any of the common forms, such as a metal cap as illustrated. The light rays from the lamp in the direction of the reflectors and sign are preferably not interfered With.

Having described my invention, What I' claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: p

1. In an illuminated sign, the combination. with a support; a lamp shining thereon; and a series of hollow bodies mounted on said support and arranged to define a design thereon and formed of transparent material, each ofsaid hollow bodies containing a relatively flat, though slightly concaved, inclined and roughened reflecting surface inclosed therein whereby the light from said lamp is reflected and the reflecting surface is protected from harmful conditions.

2. In an illuminated sign, the combination'with a support having a design outlined thereon and a lam shining thereon; of a series of light-d1fiusing members mounted on the support and arranged to isaaaie define the design thereon, each of said members being formed of transparent material and having an inclined face whose reverse side is roughened and is provided withJrefleeting material whereby it is adapted to reflect the light from said. lamp in difiused manner and said reflecting materialis protected from harmful conditions.

3. In an illuminated sign," the combination with a support having. a design outlined thereon; of a series of holding means thereon arranged to define the design; a lamp shining thereon; a shade mounted adjacent the lamp and adapted to prevent the projection of clear rays from the lamp in a general outward direction from the face of the sign; and a plurality of light-diffusing members, each including a hollow body of transparent material impervious to moisture, 'and having an inclined face whose reverse side is roughened and is provided with reflecting material, and a base adapted to be inserted in and removably held by one of said holding means, whereby the light from the lamp is reflected in diffused manner by each of said members and said reflecting surfaces are protected from harmfulconditions.

4. In an illuminated sign, the combination with a support; of a series of holding means thereon, arranged to define a design; a lamp shining" thereon; a plurality of inclined reflectors, mounted in said holding means and rotatable therein, whereby the direction of the reflected light may be adjusted, each of said reflectors being roughened and adapted to reflect and diffuse the light. from the lamp; and locking means engaging said holding means and said reflector whereby each reflector is locked in said adjusted position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED-ERIGKA. SMITH.

In the presence of JOHN, H. RONEY, CLARENCE A. WmLIAMs. 

